Isner reaches tennis Top 10

VIRGINIA WATER, England, March 19 (UPI) -- John Isner reached the Top 10 for the first time and Roger Federer pulled closer to improving his No. 3 ranking in the world tennis rankings Monday.

Federer defeated Isner 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 Sunday in claiming the title at Indian Wells, Calif. It was the 19th World Tour Masters 1,000 title for Federer, tying him with Rafael Nadal for the most titles in the series.

It was Federer's 73rd overall ATP title, moving him within four of catching John McEnroe for third all time. Jimmy Connors holds the record with 109.

Perhaps more important in Federer's opinion were the ranking points he picked up on Novak Djokovic and Nadal. Djokovic defeated Nadal in the 2011 tournament final but both lost in the semifinals in 2012: Djokovic to Isner and Nadal to Federer.

It was the 2011 result at Indian Wells that knocked Federer out of the No. 2 spot in the rankings. He's still third this week but the point totals are closer.

Djokovic still has a healthy 12,670 points but Nadal (10,175) is just 800 up on Federer (9,350), who is 22-2 with three championships this year.

Isner moves from 11th to 10th this week, the first time he's been in the Top 10. He has 2,675 points, 15 more than Juan Martin del Potro, who slips from ninth to No. 11.

Andy Murray is ranked No. 4 with 7,450 points. David Ferrer remains fifth with 4,700 but is just 165 points up on No. 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Tomas Berdych (3,820) comes in seventh with Mardy Fish (2.910) in eighth. Janko Tipsarvic (2,830) is up one spot to ninth this week.